America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins Halted
Coin Update News
The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City says it will open a Bowing to consumer concerns about the excessive premiums being charged for the America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins, the United States Mint will delay the launch of the program. No orders placed by the primary distributors have been confirmed, while the Mint attempts to determine the appropriate course of action to best serve customers. The new silver bullion program was expected to launch today. The coins would feature the designs of the America the Beautiful Quarters, stuck in 5 ounces of .999 fine silver.
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Hobby Gifts Are Always a Good Fit
Numismaster
As I write this column, the store displays in Wausau, Wis., are interesting, advertising for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas—all at the same time. I guess that is an indicator of how bad the retail economy is. The paper money hobby, however, seems to be in decent shape. For my part, I think prices are just about right, room for a profit for the dealer and affordable for the collector. We will continue to see big prices on finest know or super scarce notes, but the majority of large-size type notes remain affordable for the serious collector.
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The Tsarina returns: A coin collection from Russian royalty comes back to auction
Paul Fraser Collectibles
Bonhams’ sale will be led by an Alexander II gold coin which could easily bring $100,000. Tomorrow, December 8, Bonhams is presenting their auction of the Tsarina Collection of Russian Gold Coins and Medals as part of their 530 piece Coins and Banknotes sale. Comprised of just under 100 items, this private collection has been off the market for many years with several of the coins and medals never having been offered at public auction at all.
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Low mintages to create new modern rarities
The Rare Coin Market Report
The U.S. Mint’s Dec. 1 announcement that it is placing tighter than expected mintage limits on the new 2010 America the Beautiful 5-ounce .999 fine silver bullion quarter dollars may result in the creation of some new modern rarities. The large (3 inches in diameter) and undoubtedly impressive coins will surely be in hot demand, especially with such limited supplies.
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Ancient Coins Stolen From Germany
The E-Sylum
At the Museum Schloss Hohentübingen, Tübingen (Germany, Baden-Württemberg), 44 antique coins were stolen from a showcase in the public exhibition room. The theft was reported to the local criminal investigation department on Wednesday November 24. The delinquent(s) are still unknown. The stolen pieces include Hellenistic and Roman imperial coins. Obviously, the thieves were especially interested in gold coins, for they took 37 staters, aurei and solidi, furthermore 5 coins of silver and 2 of bronze.
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Peace pipe chosen
Numismatic News
A ceremonial peace pipe will grace the reverse of the 2011 Native American $1 coin. Both the Commission of Fine Arts and Citizens Coinage Advisory Com-mittee had endorsed the design earlier this year. Its selection was announced Nov. 26 by the United States Mint. The theme for the design is “Supreme Sachem Ousamequin, Massasoit of the Great Wampanoag Nation Creates Alliance with Settlers at Plymouth Bay (1621).”
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Federal Reserve to Open Denver Money Museum
The E-Sylum
The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City says it will open a “Money Museum” and conference center at its Denver Branch next month. The new features are part of extensive renovation to the first floor of the Denver Branch, at 1020 16th St. in downtown Denver. The 7,000-square-foot Money Museum “will offer visitors a unique look at the nation’s central bank in action,” the Fed said in a statement. “Visitors can learn more about the Federal Reserve through interactive exhibits that explore an efficient payment system, a safe and sound banking system, and how monetary policy provides for a stable economy.”
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2010 Silver Eagle Coins Make History in November
Silver Coins Today
November was a history making month for 2010 Silver Eagle coins. The bullion version broke three records during the month and the numismatic proof version debuted with exceptional three-day sales. The 2010 Silver Eagle bullion continues to add to its all-time annual sales and mintage records, but the last of the three records — how many were sold in November — is now official history.
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The Famed “Comet” 1807 Large Cent
Stack’s
In our upcoming January 26-27, 2011 Americana Auction there is a magnificent 1807 S-271 large cent, the famed “Comet” variety of that year, so named for the comet-like die sinking behind Liberty’s head. This particular specimen is from the Bement, Beckwith, Gies and Hogan Pond collections and is one of just two examples that have earned an MS-65 Red and Brown grade from PCGS.
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Coin Modernization Bill Passes Senate
Coin Update News
The bill H.R. 6162 Coin Modernization, Oversight, and Continuity Act of 2010 passed in the Senate on November 30, 2010. This was the same day that a separate coin related bill authorizing palladium bullion coins was also passed in the Senate. In order to become law, both bills now only await the President’s signature.
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Build Partial Set of Large Cents
Numismaster
To specialize in large cents is a task that intimidates many a collector. One glance at the scope of this series, from 1793-1857, shows you what a challenge you have ahead. The rarities in the set can stop a determined collector. Although all large cents were struck at Philadelphia, and you won’t have to worry about mintmarks, the collecting of large cents can keep a collector busy, searching, and studying for many years, even with a hefty collecting budget.
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ANA backs WWI commem
Numismatic News
A World War I commemorative dollar to be struck by the U.S. Mint in 2017 won the support of the American Numismatic Association board of governors. Rod Gillis, ANA numismatic educator, asked for the board’s support noting that commemorative coins honor veterans of the Civil War, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, but no coinage exists to honor World War I soldiers. The board took action when it met Nov. 30 via conference call.
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Mary Todd Lincoln First Spouse Gold Coin
Mint News Blog
The US Mint will begin sales of the Mary Todd Lincoln First Spouse Gold Coins today, December 2, 2010 at 12:00 Noon ET. This will represent the final release of the year for the 24 karat series and one of the most well known First Ladies. The obverse of the Mary Todd Lincoln Gold Coin features her portrait, as designed and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill. Inscriptions include “Mary Todd Lincoln”, the motto “In God We Trust”, “Liberty”, order of the Presidency “16th”, years served “1861-1865″, and the date and mint mark.
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Ancient, English and Foreign coins shatter their pre-sale estimates at Spink
Paul Fraser Collectibles
Collectors and investors gathered in London to see a number of coins exceed all expectations, this week. The Spink ‘Ancient, English and Foreign Coins and Commemorative Medals’ auction ended in London yesterday, with some very impressive figures and a few surprises for numismatists. The sale made a total of £3,206,472 and amongst the lots were many that greatly exceeded expectations, with some selling for up to ten times their pre-sale estimates.
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Who Are We and How Do We Collect?
Numismaster
In all my years of collecting coins, reading and writing about coins and learning about coins, I have often wondered what exactly is a coin collection and what makes up a coin collector, or as those in the hobby like say, a numismatist. Does a coin collection have to be many coins, or can it be just one or two? Does it take years of study and collecting to be a numismatist, or do you instantly become one the first time you put away a few coins that you like and enjoy?
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Search for value buying opportunities
Numismatic News
I am a value buyer. When at shows, dealers will come by with boxes/sets of coins to offer. I mention this really as an indication of the opportunity that exists in the current coin market with the strong rise in precious metals. As a value buyer, I look at anything in terms of what it will bring at current prices and whether it is interesting and salable in a reasonable time.
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Mint Revises $1 Coin Design For 2011
Vending Times
The U.S. Mint said it will update the design of the Native American $1 coin next year, leaving the familiar portrait of Sacagawea on the obverse (heads) side while replacing the reverse with a new image of a peace pipe being passed from one hand to another. The Native American $1 Coin Program, mandated by Congress, requires the U.S. Mint to issue $1 coins featuring designs celebrating the important contributions made by Indian tribes and individual Native Americans to the history and development of the United States.
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A Steady Market in an Uncertain World
Stack’s
The market has remained relatively unchanged during the past week or so. Demand for choice and rare coins of all kinds remains strong, with investors competing for high grade issues, MS-65 and Proof-65 and higher, especially for items priced from a few hundred dollars up to several thousand dollars. There is, of course, continuing demand for higher priced coins, but the number of newcomers coming into the field and dropping hundreds of thousands of dollars as a start have been fewer.
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